A few weeks ago in our blog “What You Need to Know about Managing Glaucoma,” we outlined the importance of regular eye exams, coupled with continued treatment. Glaucoma is a chronic disease that must be treated over the course of one’s life, and high IOP (intraocular eye pressure) must be managed every day. When caught early and treated properly, vision loss can be halted 95% of the time or more. This means using your eye drops daily.
Research Shows Glaucoma Patients Fail to Take Eye Drops as Prescribed
Research shows that approximately 40% of patients do not take their medication as prescribed. Prescription eye drops help prevent glaucoma progression, but only if taken consistently, as prescribed by your ophthalmologist.
- Be Honest With Your Eye Doctor: Your eye doctor must measure changes to your eye pressure over time. It is important to tell your eye doctor about any irregularities in your eye drop usage. There is no benefit to be gained from lying to your eye doctor. There are benefits to be gained from honesty. Information like “why” and “when” you miss taking your drops can be very helpful, allowing your eye doctor to better craft a treatment plan around your busy schedule.
- Do You Struggle With Your Eye Drops? Some patients struggle to get their drops in their eye. If this is the case, talk to your eye doctor, who may have tips and tricks to help. Sometimes it can be as simple as lying back or repositioning the bottle. The devil is in the details, as they say.
- Cell Phone Reminders: If you have issues remembering to take your eye drops, consider cell phone reminders. It’s quick, it’s simple, and it works.
- Remember To Pack Your Eye Drops: Don’t forget to pack your eye drops when traveling.
Managing Glaucoma with the Anne Arundel Eye Center
Led by Board certified ophthalmologist Dr. Samuel Boles, the Anne Arundel Eye Center has helped preserve thousands of patients’ vision. They can help you too. Dr. Boles will diagnose your specific condition and make recommendations for treatment and future glaucoma management.
If you have any questions Managing Glaucoma or wish to schedule an appointment with Anne Arundel Eye Center, please contact Dr. Boles, Dr. Kathryn Gurganus Turner, and the eye care specialists here at AAEC by calling 410-224-2010 or Click Here to fill out our contact form. You can also follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, and YouTube as well!
For more eye care advice and information, please take a look at our previous blog posts.
Sources:
Glaucoma Eye Drops Prevent Vision Loss — But Only if Patients Use Them, Glaucoma Research Foundation